What binds the season together

So to pull back the curtain: when I sat down to write this column I was going to take the time in this column and write about all the things I want for 2021 in kind of a Christmas/New Year’s column. To be honest, it was going to be cynical and kind of whiney.

Then I ate leftover Olive Garden from the other night, Faith Hill’s “Where are you Christmas?” started playing on my computer and my tune totally changed. No one wants to read a grown man whining in a column. So instead, I’m going to write about my affection for the Christmas music.

I’ll admit it: I’m weird (but you all probably know that by now). I really like Christmas music. I try to hold off on listening to Christmas music until November, but I always fail. That’s right: when people are talking about what they’re planning on doing for Halloween, I’m probably listening to Bing Crosby sing about Santa Claus or something like that.

There’s just something about Christmas music. It instantly puts me in a good mood and can brighten my day. As someone who can get a little irritated (mainly at myself), listening to people sing about Santa Claus, snow, sleigh rides and things like that can really put me in a better mood.

And that’s why I start listening to Christmas music so early. Call me weird, but I like being in a good mood and happy. (Shocking, I know. Imagine being happy in 2020?) Christmas music does just that for me.

I have my favorites. Anything by Frank Sinatra, Burl Ives, Nat King Cole or the aforementioned Bing Crosby can and does, without fail, put a smile on my face. I like classic country Christmas songs, and I like Christmas songs from artists like Manheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

I’m not a big fan of the new Christmas music. As I’ve written before, nothing makes me change the station/skip a song faster than hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Same goes for pretty much any artist you’d hear on a Top 40 radio station. This is because, mainly, I’m not a big fan of the type of music you hear on a Top 40 radio station (but like everything there are some exceptions for Top 40 artists that I like that I won’t bore you with).

Also, I’m not a fan of Christmas songs that promote the over-commercialization of Christmas. Songs like “Santa Baby” elicits the same type of response that those sung by Top 40 artists get.

To me, Christmas music goes along with the magic of Christmas, which is my favorite time of the year. Yes, fall is by far my favorite season, but the Christmas season is my favorite time of the year.

It’s because of all of the things Christmas represents. As a kid, you love getting presents, but as an adult I’ve learned that I much prefer giving presents. There’s nothing quite like seeing the smile of someone whose day has just been made because you give him or her the perfect present.

I like decorating for Christmas. This was the first year I’ve ever been able to put up my own decorations not only inside our house but also on the exterior of our house. This year, I channeled my inner Clark Griswold and hung lights on the outside of our house. I know we did stuff like that as a kid, but I was never the person primarily doing it.

This year, with some (read: a lot of) assistance I got on the ladder and made our house look not quite Griswold-esque but still warm and cheery.

One of my favorite new traditions of Christmas here in the Black Hills is going into the forest and cutting down our own tree. Yes, it can be a long time out on a cold day and sometimes tedious (especially when the saw is being persnickety), but it’s a lot of fun.

And what goes along with cutting down your own Christmas tree? That’s right. Decorating it. I’m a big fan of decorating the tree. We have a box of ornaments we’ve been able to collect through the years from both our families and buying them, and each one has a special meaning to it.

And what goes along with all of that? Christmas music. This goes without saying, but Christmas music is really the theme music to the season. It’s what’s playing in the background whenever I do any of the Christmas activities I love so much. It’s what ties the season together. Most importantly, it’s what transports me back to being a little kid again when the Christmas season is most magical.

So, from me to all of you, Merry Christmas. I hope this Christmas season, as strange as it may be, is one filled with happiness and cheer.